[ Israel-Palestine ] Gaza rocket fail; 40yr prisoner released; clashes at Kafr Dan, Nablus & Dheisha
5/1: Israel freed longest-serving Palestinian prisoner of 40 years – received heroes welcome in his hometown of Ara
“One of Israel’s longest serving Palestinian prisoners went free on Thursday after completing a 40-year sentence, as members of the new right-wing government called for him to be stripped of his citizenship. Karim Younis, 60, was convicted of kidnapping and killing Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1983 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
He served the longest continuous sentence of any Palestinian, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Association. In his hometown, the Israeli Arab village of Ara, Kounis received a hero’s welcome. Shrouded in a traditional Palestinian shawl, he was greeted by family, friends and supporters chanting and carrying him through the streets on their shoulders.”
3/1: Rocket attack from Gaza strip fell in Gaza strip
“Terrorists launched a rocket from the Gaza Strip towards Israel this evening (Tuesday) which exploded inside Gaza.
The rocket was launched towards an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council and no red alert siren was activated in accordance with the warning policy of the Home Front Command.
The IDF stated that “a failed rocket launch that fell in the Gaza Strip was identified tonight (Tuesday). In accordance with standard operating procedures, an alert was not activated. Full routine continues on the Israeli home front.”
No terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the launch, but it is believed that it was carried out in response to the ascent to the Temple Mount by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.”
2/1: Fighting reported at Kafr Dan between Israeli and Palestinian mob
“Israeli forces on Sunday demolished the residences of two Palestinian men accused of killing an Israeli officer in September, in an effort that culminated with deadly riots in which two Palestinian militants were killed and weapons seizures.
The overnight operation was carried out by Israeli military and Border Police forces in the town of Kafr Dan, northwest of the West Bank city of Jenin, after petitions seeking to halt the demolitions were struck down by the Supreme Court.”
“A violent riot broke out during Sunday’s overnight demolition effort, with Israeli forces facing “massive” gunfire, as well as explosive devices, Molotov cocktails, burning tires, and hurled rocks, according to the military. Troops responded with riot dispersal means and live fire, with an unspecified number of hits identified.”
5/1: Fighting reported at Nablus between Israeli forces and Palestinian mob”
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said Abu Zeitoun was shot during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers during an army arrest raid. It was not immediately clear if Abu Zeitoun was taking part in the confrontations
The Israeli police said that armed Palestinians attacked the troops, who shot back. It confirmed that troops shot “an armed person, who fired at the forces from close range.””
3/1: Fighting reported at Dheisha between Israeli border police and Palestinian mobs
“Israel’s military said rocks and Molotov cocktails were thrown at border police officers during an operation in Bethlehem’s Dheisheh refugee camp.
“The forces fired toward Molotov cocktails (sic) hurlers who risked their lives, hits were identified,” the army said in a statement.
The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported clashes erupted when Israeli forces entered Dheisheh, in the southern occupied West Bank, to search houses.”
1/1: Israel dismissed an officer and a soldier for breaking open-fire protocols
“The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday that it had dismissed an officer and a soldier for opening fire at security guards from a West Bank settlement last month, after mistakenly identifying them as Palestinian rock throwers. Several more senior officers were also punished over the incident.
During the incident on December 13, soldiers at a military post near Ofra received a report that Palestinians were hurling rocks at Israeli vehicles on Route 60, the West Bank’s main north-south highway.
The troops who were dispatched to the scene saw two figures on the side of the road whom they believed to be throwing rocks and then radioed in for permission to open fire, but got no answer, according to the probe.
One of the soldiers began to shoot at the suspects regardless, in apparent contravention of the IDF’s open-fire protocols.
The shooting only stopped after the two Ofra security guards phoned the local army headquarters, and they then told the soldiers to cease fire over the radio.”
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